Green’s Dictionary of Slang

herbs n.1

[ety. unknown; ? fig. use SE herbs, which ‘spice up’ a dish or are ? given to horses, i.e. ‘horse power’]
(Aus./N.Z.)

1. a car’s speed, power, responsive to the accelerator.

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[Aus]Age (Melbourne) 20 May Lit. Supplement 17: One teaser I want explained ... is ‘herbs’ for a car’s horse power [GAW4].
[Aus] ‘Whisper All Aussie Dict.’ in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxv 6/2: herbs: Reference to power in a motor vehicle.
[UK]Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 548: since ca. 1930.
[NZ]McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 101: herbs. Originally oats for horses. Mid C20 ANZ.

2. beer.

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[Aus]B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 79: Let’s get stuck into the herbs.

In phrases

give it the herbs (v.) (also give it the berries)

(Aus.) to accelerate a car or fig. to give someone power.

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[Aus] Bulletin 10 Aug. 34: I feed Mehitabel [the jeep] the herbs and she lays back her ears and leaves.
[US]L. Dills CB Slanguage 45: Give It the Berries: accelerate.
Don Townshend Gland Time 140: Them glands have given him more herbs than a tractor.
[NZ]McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 56/1: herbs power/speed ratio, phr. give him/her/it herbs or plenty of herbs usually suggestion you depress car accelerator to the floor or its maximum; originally sluggish horses were given more herbs, or oats.
[US]Dallas Morning News 7 Sept. 🌐 ‘How to Speak Australian’ 7 Sept. ‘A doer will saddle up and then give it the herbs’ It’s not a recipe for seasoned horsemeat, but a slice of everyday Australian slang. Here’s what we mean: Doer: A hard worker Saddle up: Get ready for work Give it the herbs: Go faster; accelerate.
[NZ]McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988].